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Biotransformation of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) by Newly Isolated Slight Halophilic Bacteria

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Abstract

Current study reports isolation of newly isolated slight halophilic bacteria which can utilize 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) as a sole nitrogen source, leading to its detoxification. Among 100 halo(alkali)tolerant and halo(alkali)philic strains were isolated from TNT-contaminated soil, two slight halophilic alkalitolerant strains showed remarkable ability to quickly remove the different concentrations of TNT up to 200 mg/L during 24 h in aerobic condition. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that both strains belonged to the genus Pseudomonas which were able to grow aerobically in different concentrations of NaCl (up to 5 and 10%, respectively), temperature (25–40°C), and pH (7–9). Kinetic studies of TNT biotransformation process showed this growth-associated process followed the first-order expression with parameters of kd: 0.09–0.11 mg/(L h), Т1/2: 6–7 h, μ: 0.17–0.25 1/h leading to a removal of 90% of TNT (100 mg/L) during a 24 hour period. Finally, the growth rate of both strains evaluated on minimal and complex media, and growth parameters were optimized for maximum growth and most likely maximum biotransformation.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge University of Tehran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and Kharazmi University for supporting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    M. Ali-Begloui, M. Ebrahimi, M. A. Amoozegar & A. Salehi-Najafabadi

  2. Department of Cell and Molecular Science, School of Biological Science, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

    E. Salehghamari

  3. Pharmaceutics Department, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    S. Sadrai

Authors
  1. M. Ali-Begloui
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  2. E. Salehghamari
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  3. S. Sadrai
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  5. M. A. Amoozegar
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  6. A. Salehi-Najafabadi
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Correspondence to E. Salehghamari.

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Ali-Begloui, M., Salehghamari, E., Sadrai, S. et al. Biotransformation of Trinitrotoluene (TNT) by Newly Isolated Slight Halophilic Bacteria. Microbiology 89, 616–625 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026261720050033

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